Public attitudes toward Ukrainians have changed in Poland, says ambassador
It is important to clearly distinguish between Polish society’s attitude toward Ukraine and its attitude toward Ukrainians living in Poland.
This was stated by Ukraine’s Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar in an interview with Radio Liberty.
According to the diplomat, most Poles, including the political elite, support Ukraine in the war against Russia and recognize the threat posed by the Russian Federation. At the level of state policy, he emphasized, principled support for Ukraine remains stable.
At the same time, as the ambassador noted, the situation regarding Ukrainians living in Poland is different.
“At the start of the war, Ukrainians were welcomed and helped. But in 2025–2026, attitudes changed. Sentiments are increasingly, one might say, deteriorating,” Bodnar said.
He explained that this is due to a number of factors:
- historical memory and sensitive historical issues
- the issue of exhumations and a shared past
- border and economic disputes
- the rise of anti-immigration sentiment in the EU
The ambassador also noted that some political forces in Poland are using the issue of migration in domestic politics. Among them, he mentioned far-right movements, particularly Grzegorz Braun, who is known for his anti-Ukrainian rhetoric.
At the same time, according to Bodnar, a dialogue is ongoing between Ukraine and Poland to reduce tensions. The Ukrainian side is also promoting the exchange of experience gained during the war, particularly in the areas of local self-government, medicine and rehabilitation, civil protection, and shelters.
The ambassador emphasized that despite the difficulties, the strategic partnership and support for Ukraine in the war remain unchanged at the level of Poland’s state policy.
European countries are gradually changing the rules regarding the stay of Ukrainians and are increasingly sending requests for their return home. At the same time, this is not a mass deportation of everyone, but rather targeted decisions regarding individual cases and violations.
In addition, the European Union has begun discussing possible changes to the rules on temporary protection for some Ukrainian men currently in EU countries, specifically regarding an attempt to harmonize the approach toward conscripts who have left Ukraine. So far, this is merely a discussion without final decisions, but the issue is already sparking controversy within European institutions.
